jersey

[Row1and]

in sports like basketball, do jersey numbers really matter? People are surprised the KG is wearing the number 5 for celtics, but would it have mattered differently if it was a number 3 or 2 or any number that no one had?

 

[hdeck]

maybe they are surprised he wasn't keeping his old number

 

[1sikbITCH]

In the NFL it matters:

NFL Rule 5, Section 1, Article 4

All players must wear numerals on their jerseys in accordance with Rule 5, Section 3, Article 3c (see NOTE 1), and such numerals must be by playing position as follows: quarterbacks, punters, and placekickers, 1-19 (and 10-19 for wide receivers if 80-89 are all otherwise assigned); running backs and defensive backs, 20-49; centers, 50-59 (60-79 if 50-59 unavailable); offensive guards and tackles, 60-79; wide receivers and tight ends, 80-89; defensive lineman, 60-79 (90-99 if 60-79 unavailable); and linebackers 50-59 (90-99 if 50-59 unavailable).

This allows the officials to keep track of who is doing what on the field, because there are rules about who can do what, for instance offensive linemen acting like receivers, and you have to keep a certain amount of people on the line of scrimmage, etc. Makes it easy for the officials (and everyone else) to keep track.